Engine-starter.



H. GOEDD ERTZ. ENGINE STARTER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 21,1915.

1 169393, Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS'SHEET I.

Y, J %\5 AIL/b Y/ZZQVM?" H. GOEDDERTZ.

ENGINE STARTERI APPLICATION FILED JUI .Y 27. 1915.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- mwsg ' 1N VENTOR. //enr 0dd6ff2 ATTORNEY.

HENRY GOEDDER-TZ, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ENGINE-STARTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 25, 1916.

Application filed July 27, 1915. Serial No. 42,191.

To all Whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Iluxnr (h'ucnoicn'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver,- in the county of Denver and State of Colorado. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in llngine-Starters. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in lluid-driven engine starters, and its primary object resides in providing mechanism of simple construction in which the admission of a motive fluid to a reciprocating piston imparts through the intermediary of a tral'ismission mechanism of novel construction, a rotary motion to the shaft of an in ternal combustion engine which is thereby set in motion. The construction of the transmission mechanism permits of adjustment for placing the engine shaft in driving relation to the piston which by its reciprocating movement, supplies to a reservoir the motive fluid subsequently used for its operation to start the engine, as stated hercinabove.

The above and other objects all of which will fully appear in the course of the following description. I attain by mechanism of the character illustrated in the accomings, the numeral 2 designates 'panying drawings, in the various views of which like figures are similarly designated, and in which,

Figure l is a perspective view of the front end of an automobile showing my improved starting mechanism installed in operative relation to the engine thereof, Fig. 2, an enlarged front view of the starter. Fig. 3.

va longitudinal section taken along the line 3-3, Fig. 2, Fig. t, a fragmentary section along the line -l-l. -l*ig-. 3, smaller scale, Fig. 5, a reduced sectional ele vation of the starter showing av modilicd construction of the adjiistable in ans by which the members of the transmission mechanism are connected for cooperation, Fig. U. a section taken along the line G6, Fig. 3. Fig. 7. a plan view of the cylinder of the starter, l*igs. h. t) and 10, sectional views of lheoperating valve which controls the (low of motive tluid' to and from the cylinder. in the three positions to which it is moved in the operation of the device, and Fig. 11, an enlarged section taken along the line 11 11, 'Fig.

Referring more specifically to the drawthe front part of an automobile including the radiator 3 and the dash-board 4,1 5' the internal drawn to a.

combustion engine of the vehicle, and 6 the steering post of the same.

My improved starter comprises an upright cylinder 7 supported upon a crank case 8 with which it is rigidly connected, and closed at its top by a removable head 9. The crank case is rreferably provided With a foot 10 for the support of the starter upon a surface beneath the hood of the vehicle and in adjacency to the engine of the same as shown in Fig. 1. The head 9 is held in place on the cylinder by nuts 12 screwed upon the threaded extremities of four stud bolts 13 which are secured upon the crank case exteriorly of the cylinder, and extend loosely through openings in an external flange of the head. The bolts are furthermore employed as a support for an :t instable coilntershaft-carrier 14 and a guide sheave 15 as'will hereinafter be more fully described Mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder is a piston 16 which by means of a pitman 17 is operatively associated with a crank 18 in the crank case S. The crank is fixed at the inner end of a shaft 19 which is rotatably supported in a bearing 20 formed integral with and exteriorly of the crank-case and which at its outer end carries a sprocket wheel 21.

Mounted for vertical adjustment upon the four bolts 13 is the beforeanentioned carrier 1+ which has a laterally projecting shaft 22 uponwhich a speed-reducing member of the transmissigm mechanism is rotatably mounted. The carrier is held in its adjusted positions between nuts 23 which are screwed upon the bolts 13, and its shaft 22 is provided at its outer extremity with a cap 2i which performs the double function of securing the transmission member supported upon the shaft against longitudinal displacement. and of holding the end of a return spring hereinafter to be described.

The ahove-mentioned movement reducing member, which will hereinafter be referred to as the secondary transmission member, comprises a sprocket pinion 25 of smaller diameter than the sprocket wheel 21 with which it is connected by a chain 26, and a sheave 27 which through the medium of a belt 28 imparts a rotary motion to a smaller sheave 29 on the primary transmission memher which is mounted for rotation upon the bearing 20 in which the crank shaft is supported. The last-mentioned transmission member includes in integral relation to the sheave 29, a sprocket wheel 30 which by the use of a chain 31 is operatively connected with a corresponding wheel fixed on the shaft of the internal combustion engine, not shown in the drawings.

A clutch element the purpose of which is to secure the rotative continuity of the crank shaft and the primary transmission member member rotates in consequence idly upon its shaft. To effect a driving action of the primary transmission member with relation to the other member through the instrumentality of the belt, the latter is tensioned to frictionally engage the two sheaves, by means of a belt tightener composed of a grooved pulley 34E on'the end of an arm 35 which is rotatably mounted upon the bearing 20 of th-ecrank case, and is normally supported upon a pin 86 projecting from the case.-

The belt-tightener is operated from the drivers seat of the automobile by adjustment of a hand-lever 37 on the steering post 6, which by means of a cord 38 running over the before-mentioned guide-sheave 15 on one of the bolts 13, is connected with the arm 35. Instead of the sheaves, belt and tightener hereinabove described for effecting a move ment transmitting connection between the members of the transmission mechanism, a friction-drive such as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, may be employed. The transmission members are in this construction provided with friction wheels 39 and 4:0 in the place of the sheaves 27 and 29, and an intermediate wheel 41 positioned to simultaneously engage the peripheries of the other wheels, is rotatably mounted upon the- 'arm A. resilient element which in the operation serves to return the crank-shaft to its normal position in which the crank is a few degrees off its upper dead center, consists of a rod 42 which is pivoted on a wrist 43 of the sprocket wheel 30 and which slidingly extends through a bore in the before-mentioned cap 24: on the shaft 22. For the purpose of permittingthe cap 2* to follow the movement of the rod during rotation of the'sprocket wheel 21, it has a limited oscillating movement on the shaft upon which it is mounted. The cap is to this end secured to the shaft by means of a split pin 44 which is driven through a transverse bore in the end of the shaft and projects throughalinedopenings of larger diameter in the cap which is loosely fitted on the shaft. A spring 45 coiled around the rod 42 rests at one of its ends upon the head of the rod which connectswith the wrist 43, and it has at its opposite end a rectilinear extension 46 which is held in a bore of the cap 24 by means of a set screw 47. It will be seen that this arrangement presents a ready means for varying the tension of the spring by sliding its extension in either direction through the bore of the cap after the set-screw has been loosened, and inasmuch as the rod on which the spring is mounted is normally in an upright position, the degrees of contraction and expansion of the spring during rotation of' the;cran kshaft will be the. same at opposite sides of the vertical passing through the axis of rotation.

The motive fluid starter, is preferably supplied from a body of air under pressure contained in a reservoir -18;

The mechanism hereinbefore described not only starts the engine by the compressed air obtained from the reservoir, but it also serves to supply air under pressure to the reservoir at any time its replenishment is required. \Vith this end in view, the cylinder 7 is con nected with the reservoir by a conduit 49 whichis branched as shown in Fig. 7, to connect with two separate openings in the cylinder-head as at 50 and 51. One of the branches of the conduit contains an operating valve 52 the rotary plug of which has an arm 53 which by means of a rod 54: is attached to a lever 55 on the steering post 6. and the other branch contains a check valve 61- adapted to obstruct the flow of motive fluid through the branch into the cylinder while permitting its flow in the opposite direction. The plug (53 of the operating valve which is of the three-way type, is adjustable to the three positions shown in Figs. 8, 9

and 10 to either connect the cylinder with the atmosphere through the medium of a port 56, as in Fig. 10, to connect the cylinder with the reservoir by means of ports 57 and 58 as in Fig. 8. or to close the opening 51 of the cylinder with which the port 57 connects. against the flow of air in either direction, as in Fig. 9.

An air inlet 59 in the cylinder head is normally closed by a check valve (30 which per- .mits the inflow of air when the air contained which operates the "tion is asfollows: \Vhen the starter is in its normal inactive conditiml. the crank-shaftbeing held in a positionslightly off its "upper dead center, maintains through the medium ofthe pitman lT, the piston in the position it occupies at the end of its upward stroke. The operating valve is in the position shown in Fig. in which it connects the interior of the cylinder with the atn'iosphere through the port 56. The check valve (it) on the cylinder is in consequence closed. and inasmuch as I the belttightener isin its normal position of rest. the belt 28h; slack. Now, when it is desired to start the engine whose shaft is by means of the sprocket-chain 31 operativeiy connected with the crank shaft of the starter, the driver of the vehicle changes by adjustment of the lever 55, the position of the valve plug (53 to that illustrated in Fig. 8 in which the cylinder is in connection with the reservoir. The consequent introduction of air under pressure into the upper end of the cylinder imparts a downward motion to the piston Whose movement is through the me-' dium of the pitman converted into a rotary movement of the crank shaft. The ratchet clutch compels the primary transmission member to rotate in conjunction with the,

crank shaft, and the rotary movement of the said member is by meansof the sprocket chain 31 comnulnicatcd to the shaft of the engine which in consequence is set in motion. In this connection it should be understood that the operator inunediatcly after moving the'lever for the adjustment of the valve plug to establish communication between the cylinder and the reservoir. returns the same to its original position so that after the pis ton has completed its dowmvard stroke and the crank shaft has rotated through approximately one-half a revolution. the exhaust of the compressed air through the port 56, permits the spring which was tensioned during the operation. to return the parts to their originalposition. By moving the operating,

lever back and forth. the operation can in this manner be repeated as often as required, so that in case the first movement of the engine-sha'l't fails to produce the desired ell'ect, it can be rotated intermittently until the engine is set in motion. \Vhilpthe vehicle engine is in operation the primary transmission member rotates idly upon its bearing, the pawls of the clutch being by centrif ugal force held in a position against the periphery of the recess in the transmission member, free from contactv with the ratchet wheel on the sprocket wheel .2.

To replenish the reservoir by the operation of the starter, the valve is moved to the position. illustrated in Fig. 9 in which the in turn imparts a rotary movement to the crank shaft through the intermediary of the sprocket-chain :6. The reciprocating movementthus imparted to the piston alternately draws air of atmospheric pressure into the cylinder past the check valve (50, and drives the same through the opening 50 and past the checkvalve (H, into the reservoir. By holding the two operating levers in their ad justed positions the operation of the air compresser maythus be continued until the air in the reservoir has been compressed to the required density which is indicated on the pressure-gage (32.

The sprocket-wheels and sheaves of the transmission members, and the sprocket wheel on the engine-shaftare proportioned so that the speed of the piston is reduced when the device is operated as a compressor, it being known that a compressor is most effectiv and economical when operating with a moderate velocity.

l-laving thus described the construction andoperation of my improved fluid-driven engine starter. I desire it understood that modifications in the relative arrangement and construction of parts may be resorted to within the spirit of my invention as delined in the appended claims. One variation. the substitution of a friction drive for the belt and pullcv transmission, has been explained in the foregoing description. (hanges in the construction and position of the means for transmitting the movement of the crank shaft to the shaft of the automobile engine. naturally dependv on the type of engine to which the invention is applied,- and the position of the starter relative thereto, and if it is desired to use the device only as an engine starter, as for example in case a separate pump or air compressor is installed on the vehicle, the secondary transmission -membe' and the sheave on the primary transmission men'lber can be eliminated and'the check valves (30 and (H on the cylinder-head omitted. The clutch can under these conditions be applied to the sprocket 'wheel on theengine shaft instead of to the scribed, comprising a piston chamber, a rotary element, a piston in the piston chamber operatively connected with the said element, and mechanism to establish a driving connection between the said element and a rotary engine-shaft, including a primary transmission member, a clutch for the conjunctive movement of the said transmission member and the saidelement in one direction, a secondary transmission member having a driving connection with the said element, a bearing for the said secondary transmission-member, means for the adjustment of said bearing whereby to'vary the distance between the axes of the members, and adjustable, normally inactive means for transmitting the movement of the primary transmission-member to the secondary transmission member.

2. An engine starter of the character described comprising a pistoirchalnber, a support for said chamber, bolts on said support, a head closing an end of the chamber, a rotary element, a piston in the piston chamber operatively connected with the said element, and mechanism to establish a driving connection between the said element and a rotary engine shaft, including a primary transmission-member, a clutch for the conjunctive movement of the said transmission member and the rotary element in one direc tion, a secondary transmission member hav-' ing a driving connection with the said element, a bearing for the said secondary transmission member, nuts on the said bolts adjustably securing said bearing, and'adjustable, normallv inactive means for transmitting the movement of the primary transmis- 'sion member to the secondary transmission member.

3. An engine starter of the character described, comprising a piston chamber, a rotary element, a piston in the piston chamber operatively connected with the said element, and mechanism to establish a driving con- --nection between the said element and a rotary engine-shaft, comprising a primary rotary transmission member including a sheave, a clutch for the conjunctive movement of the said element and the said member in one direction, a secondary rotary transmission member in driving connection with the primary transmissioii-member, and including a sheave, a belt on thesaid sheaves, and an adjustable belt'tightener to tension the belt.

4. In an engine starter of the character described, a piston chamber, a rotary element, a piston in the piston chamber operatively connected with said element, mechanism for transmitting the movement of the said element in one direction to a rotary engine-shaft, and resilient means for determining the normal position of thesaid element, composed of a rod having a. wrist-con gineshaft, and resilient means for determining the normal position of the said element, composed of a rod having a wrist connection with the element, an oscillatory abutment in which said rod has a sliding motion, and a spring coiled around the rod and adjustably secured to the said bearing at one of its ends.

6. An engine starter of the character de scribed comprising a piston chamber, a rotary crank-shaft. a piston in the piston chamber in driving connection with the c 'ank-shat't, mechanism for transmitting the movement of the said shaft in one direction, to a rotary engine-shaft, and resilient means for determining the normal position of the crank-shaft, composed of a guiding member having a wrist connection with the crankshaft. an oscillating,abutment in which the guiding member has a sliding motion, and a spring guided by said member, in engagement with the abutment, the said guiding member being normally in a vertical position and holding the crank-shaft at a determinate degree ofl its dead center.

' 7. An engine starter of the character described comprising a piston chamber. a rotary crank-shaft, a piston in the pistonchamber in driving connection with the crank-shaft. mechanism to establish a driving connection between the crank shaft and a rotary engine-shaft. comprising a primary transmissionanember. a clutch for the conjunctive movement of the said member and the crank-shaft. and a secondary transmission-nuanber in driving connection with the crank-shalt. a shaft supporting the secondary transmission member, a cap having an oscillating movement on the last-mentioned shaft, and resilient means for determining tlifidlOl'llltll condition of the crank-shaft. composed of a guiding member having a wrist connection with the crank-shaft and a sliding connection with the said cap, and a spring guided by said member in engage-- ment .with the cap.

8. An engine starter of the character described comprising a piston chamber, a re tary crank-shaft, a' piston in the piston chamber in driving connection with the crank-shaft, mechanism to establish a driving connection between the crank shaft and a rotary engine-shaft, comprising a primary transmission-member, a clutch for the conjunctive movement of the said member and the crank-shaft, and a secondary transmission member in driving connection with the crank-shaft, a shaft sup porting the secondary transmission member, a cap having an oscillating movement on the last-mentioned shaft, and resilient means for determining the normal condition of the crank-shaft, composed of a guiding member having a wrist connection with the crank the reservoir and of connecting the )iston' chamber with the atmosphere, a seconc connection between the reservoir and the piston chamber, a valve normally closing said second connection and adapted to open for the passage of air displaced by the piston-movement, to the reservoir, and a valve controlling an opening in the piston-chamber to admit atmosphere thereto when the air within the cylinder is reduced to less than atmospheric .pressure. I

10. An engine starter of the character de scribed comprising a piston chamber, a crank-shaft, a bearing in which said shaft ital rotates, a piston in the piston chamber in driving connection with the crank shaft, a transmission wheel fixed on the crank-shaft, a transmission-element rotating upon the bearing and including a member for its operative connection with a rotary engine shaft, a clutch to automatically effect a conjunctive movement of the crank-shaft and the transmission element, a second shaft, a secondarytransmission element rotating on the said second shaft and including a trans mission-member in operative connection with the transmission member on the crankshaf a normally inactive device adapted to establish a connection between the transmission elements fortheir conjunctive rotation, and means for the adjustment of said device to an operative position.

11. An engine starter of the character described comprising a piston chamber, a crank-shaft, a piston in the piston chamber in driving connection with the crank shaft,

a transmission wheel fixed on the crankshaft, a rotary transmission element including a member for its operative connection with a rotary engine shaft, a clutch to automatically effect a conjunctive movement of the crank-shaft and the transmission element, a secondary rotary transmission element including a transmission-member in operative connection with the tansmission member on the crank-shaft, a normally inactive device adapted to establish a connection between the transmission elements for their conjunctive rotation, and means for the adj ustmentof said device to an operative position.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY GOEDDERTZ.

Witnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, L. L. 'RHoADEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five eentseach, by addressing the commissioner of Eatenta,

Washington, 33 E, 

